Marking device with selective marking wheels adjacent a punch member

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for marking a plate member at a preselected location and to impress selected characters on opposite sides of the mark. A bridge member spans a layout table and is movably supported on a pair of rails secured to the table sides so that the bridge member is movable longitudinally along the layout table. A turret assembly is movably supported on the bridge member and is movable longitudinally thereon and transversely relative to the layout table. The turret assembly includes a marking head assembly that is movable vertically toward and away from the plate positioned on the layout table. The marking head assembly includes a central support member with a punch member extending downwardly therefrom and a pair of marking wheels rotatably supported on opposite sides of said support member. The marking wheels have a plurality of raised characters positioned at spaced intervals along the outer periphery. The marking wheels are rotated by means of a driven worm gear assembly and a pawl ratchet assembly. A fixed commutator wheel is associated with each marking wheel and has separate commutators for each character on the marking wheel. Separate fixed and movable commutator wheels complete an electrical circuit through a remotely closed switch circuit and the commutator for a selected numeral on the marking wheel. The circuit remotely controls the drive for rotating the marking wheel and stops the wheel when the selected numeral is in a marking position.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Norman A. Beck Ellicott City, Md.[21] Appl. No. 6,201

[22] Filed Jan. 27, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [73] AssigneeKoppersCompany, Inc.

[54] MARKING DEVICE WITH SELECTIVE MARKING WHEELS ADJACENT A PUNCHMEMBER 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 101/79, 10l/316, 33/189 [51] Int. Cl B411 15/14, B411 47/04[50] Field of Search 83/562;

Primary Examiner- Robert E. Pull'rey Assistant Examiner E. M. CovenABSTRACT: Apparatus for marking a plate member at a preselected locationand to impress selected characters on opposite sides of the mark. Abridge member spans a layout table and is movably supported on a pair ofrails secured to the table sides so that the bridge member is movablelongitudinally along the layout table. A turret assembly is movablysupported on the bridge member and is movable longitudinally thereon andtransversely relative to the layout table. The turret assembly includesa marking head assembly that is movable vertically toward and away fromthe plate positioned on the layout table. The marking head assemblyincludes a central support member with a punch member extendingdownwardly therefrom and a pair of marking wheels rotatably supported onopposite sides of said support member. The marking wheels have aplurality of raised characters positioned at spaced intervals along theouter periphery. The marking wheels are rotated by means of a drivenworm gear assembly and a pawl ratchet assembly. A fixed commutator wheelis associated with each marking wheel and has separate commutators foreach character on the marking wheel. Separate fixed and movablecommutator wheels complete an electrical circuit through a remotelyclosed switch circuit and the commutator for a selected numeral on themarking wheel. The circuit remotely controls the drive for rotating themarking wheel and stops the wheel when the selected numeral is in amarking position.

PATENTEDJAM 1 I972 31633498 SHEET 1. [IF 2 PATENTED JAN? 1 1972 3 633498SHEET 2 UF 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to a remotely controlled marking device and moreparticularly to a marking device wherein the relative position of themarking wheel thereon is controlled by an electric circuit through themarking wheel.

2. Description of the Prior Art Remotely controlled marking devices suchas those illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,818,014 and 3,102,688 are usedto mark slabs, billets or the like. The marking heads are positioned onarms or support devices and the location of the marks impressed on thearticle are dependent on the location of the article relative to themarking device. Mechanical means are employed to control the positioningof the marking wheels to position the desired characters in the markingposition.

Where a plurality of different operations such as drilling holes ofdifferent diameters, cutting along a given arcuate line and the like areto be performed on a plate, it is highly desirable to mark the locationson the plate where all of the desired operations are to be performed andto indicate at each location the type of operation to be performed atthat specific location. In the past, marking the location on the platewhere the different operations were to be performed was accomplished bya conventional punch. The type of operation to be performed at eachlocation was either performed at the time of marking or manuallyindicated on the plate. Either procedure was time consuming and subjectto error. There is a need for apparatus to remotely mark the locationswhere a given operation is to be performed and to also remotely indicateby a numerical code the type of operation to be performed at thatlocation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The hereinafter-described invention is directedto a turret assembly that is accurately positioned in overlying relationto a desired location on a plate. A plurality of marking wheels on themarking head of the turret assembly are remotely rotated and arearranged to stop with a preselected character in marking position onopposite sides of a punch on the marking head. The marking head is moveddownwardly into abutting relation with the plate and impresses both apunch mark and characters adjacent the punch mark to indicate the typeof operation to be performed at that location. The marking head has adrive means to rotate the marking wheels and an electrical controldevice is provided to stop the drive means when the selected characteris in marking position.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide aremotely controlled marking device that both marks a plate and impressesremotely selected characters at a location adjacent the mark.

Another object of this invention is to provide a remotely controlledelectrical device in the marking heads to stop the marking wheel whenthe preselected character is in marking position.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be morecompletely disclosed and described in the following specification, theaccompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIFTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan viewof the layout table with the turret assembly movably positioned thereon.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in section taken along the lines Il-ll ofFIG. 1 illustrating the manner in which the turret assembly is supportedon the transverse rails.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in front elevation of the turret assembly.

FIG. 4 is a view in section and in front elevation taken along the linesIVIV in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation and partially in section of themarking head portion of the turret assembly taken along the line V-V ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in plan of the underside of the turretassembly illustrating the marking wheels on opposite sides of the punchmember taken along the lines Vl-Vl of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings andparticularly FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a layout tablegenerally designated by the numeral 10 that includes a plurality ofelectromagnets 12 in the base of the table 10. The electromagnets arearranged to magnetically engage and secure a metallic work plate to theupper surface of the table 10 in a preselected position and maintain thework plate in that position while the turret assembly generallydesignated by the numeral 14 is moved to various preselected positionsabove the work plate. At these positions the turret is arranged to bothpunch and mark the work plate.

The table 10 has a pair of parallel rails 16 extending longitudinallyalong the sides of the table with a bridge member 18 movably supportedon the rails 16 by wheels 20. A propelling means (not shown) is arrangedto move the bridge member 18 on the rails 16 longitudinally along thetable 10 to various locations above the work plate secured to the baseor bed of the table 10. The bridge 18 has a pair of rails 22 extendingtransversely to the table 10 with the turret assembly 14 movablysupported on rails 22 by wheels 24. Suitable propelling means isprovided to move the turret assembly 14 along the rails 22 to positionthe turret assembly 14 at preselected transverse locations above thework plate secured to the table 10.

With this arrangement, longitudinal movement of the bridge 18 positionsthe turret 14 at reselected X locations on the work plate. Thetransverse movement of the turret 14 relative to the table 10 and thework plate positioned thereon is accomplished by the movement of theturret 14 along the rails 22 to thus position the turret assembly 14 atpreselected Y" locations above the work plate. The positioning of theturret 14 above the work plate at preselected X and Y locations may beaccomplished by manual control or may be controlled by tapes, cards orother automated programmed control devices.

A feedback system is provided for a visual indication of the exact X andY location of the turret assembly. Any suitable feedback system may beemployed, such as the Emmerson Electric Accra-Count position indicatorused for machine tools. Such a feedback system includes a spur-toothedrack mounted along one of the rails 16 with a spur gear rotatablymounted on the bridge member 18 in meshing relation with thespur-toothed rack. The rotation of the gear drives a pulse generatorwhich electrically drives a readout counter at a remote control station.The counter may be designed to read in inches or other suitabledimension indicating digits. A similar arrangement may be used tovisually indicate the position of the turret member 14 on the bridge 18.

With this arrangement, an operator can rapidly position the turret at apreselected X and Y location on the table 10 above the work platesecured to the table 10. At the preselected location as will be laterdescribed, the operator through suitable electric controls, rotates themarking wheels on the turret 14 to position preselected numbers on thewheels in marking position. By other controls a portion of the turret ismoved downwardly and impresses a punch mark at the preselected locationby means of a punch and also imprints characters on opposite sides ofthe punch mark, The characters on opposite sides of the punch mark maybe used to indicate the type of metal-finishing operation to beperformed at that specific location on the plate.

The turret assembly 14 includes an upper plate 26 that is maintained ata fixed elevation above the table and has depending flange portions 28to which the wheels 24 are rotatably secured. The plate 26 has fourspaced post apertures 30 with posts 32 of the marking head assembly 34extending therethrough.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, depending guide sleeve members 36 are securedto the underside of the plate 26 to rigidify the assembly and provideelongated passageways through which the posts 32 extend. A pistoncylinder assembly 38 has a cylinder 40 secured to a horizontal markinghead mounting plate 42 of the marking head assembly 34 and the endportion of a piston rod 44 is secured to the fixed plate 26. The posts32 extend through apertures 46 in the marking head mounting plate 42 andare secured to the underside of the plate 42. With this arrangement, theposts 32 secured to the mounting plate 42 extend through the guidesleeves 36 and the apertures 30 in the upper turret plate 26 and providefor guided vertical movement of the marking head assembly 34. The pistoncylinder assembly 38 secured at one end to the marking head mountingplate 42 and at the other end to the turret mounting plate 26 isarranged to extend and retract the piston rod 44 within the cylinder 40and thus move the marking head assembly 34 vertically. The pistoncylinder head assembly 38 is preferably an air cylinder, although otherservomechanisms may be used. An auxiliary cylinder may be provided (notshown) to exert added force on the marking head assembly 34 to drive andimpress the punch mark and the code numbers in the work plate. Wheredesired, the piston cylinder assembly 38 may be employed to both lowerthe marking head assembly and to also apply sufficient force to thepunch and marking wheels to impress the punch mark and characters intothe surface of the work plate.

The marking head assembly generally designated by the numeral 34 isillustrated in detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and and includes a horizontal platesupport member 42 with a depending central vertical support member 50secured thereto by means of bolt members 52. The vertical support 50 hasan arcuate lower end portion 54 with a punch member 56 secured therein.The punch member is arranged upon lowering of the marking head assembly34 to impress a punch mark in the plate member secured to the uppersurface of table 10.

The vertical support 50 has a transverse passageway 58 therethroughthrough which extends a support shaft 60. The shaft 60 is arranged tosupport a pair of rotatable marking wheels generally designated by thenumeral 62 on opposite sides of the vertical support member 50. Themarking wheels 62 are similar in construction and have a body portion 64with a transverse passageway 66 therethrough. The support shaft 60extends through the passageway 66 and rotatably supports the markingwheel 62 thereon. Bearings 68 are positioned between the shaft 60 andthe wheel body portion 64 and the marking wheel 62 is maintained on theshaft 60 by means of an annular washer 70 and snapring 72. With thisarrangement, the marking wheel 62 is freely rotatable about the shaft60.

An annular character wheel 74 having spaced radially extending blocks 76along the periphery thereof is secured to the marking wheel 62 by meansof bolts 78. The radially extending blocks 76 have raised charactersalong the ends that form corresponding impressions in the plate. Themarking wheel body portion has an annular ratchet wheel 80 securedthereto by the same bolts 78. An annular worm wheel 82 is secured to themarking wheel body portion 64 by a snapring 84. With this arrangement,the number wheel 74, ratchet wheel 80 and worm wheel 82 are securedtoand rotate with the marking wheel body portion 64. The marking wheel 62has an annular end ring member 86 with a conductor ring 88 thereinsecured to the outer end of the wheel body portion by bolts 90 (FIG. 4)so that the rings 86 and 88 rotate with the marking wheel.

A contactor wheel 92 is rotatably supported on an arm member 94 that ispivotally secured on pin 96 extending from ring 86. The arm member 94and pin member are arranged to provide a current path from wheel 92 toconductor ring 88. A spring member 98 urges the contactor wheel 92 in aclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4.

A pawl 100 is pivotally supported atone end by a bellcrank lever 102. Apawl drive motor 104 is suitably secured to the horizontal support plate42 and has a shaft 106 connected to lever 102. With this arrangement,rotation of the pawl drive motor shaft 106 rotates the pawl 100 to movethe pawl end portion 108 toward and away from the ratchet wheel teeth110 so that when the pawl member is in the position illustrated in FIGS.3 and 4, the marking wheel 62 is nonrotatably fixed relative to theshaft 60 and maintains the preselected character in a locked markingposition.

A worm gear 112 is suitably supported in a housing 114 which is, inturn, supported on the horizontal plate members 42. The worm gear 112meshes with the worm gear 82 secured to the marking wheel body portion64 so that rotation of the marking wheel 62 is dependent on the rotationof the worm gear 112. The worm gear 112 is secured to a shaft 116 thatis, in turn, secured to the drive shaft 118 of an air motor 120. Withthis arrangement, actuation of air motor 120 rotates the worm 112 which,because of its meshing relation with the worm gear 82, rotates themarking wheel 62.

An end enclosure or cover 122 is secured to the housing 114 and remainsin fixed nonrotatably relation relative to the marking wheel 62.Positioned within the enclosure 122 is an annular fixed commutator ring124 that has a plurality of commutators 126 formed therein. A separatecommutator 126 is provided on the fixed commutator wheel 124 for eachcharacter on the marking wheel 62. A conductor wire is connected to eachcommutator 126 and the conductors are gathered into a single conduitthat extends to a remote operators console where each conductor wireforms a separate circuit with a separate switch. The circuits arearranged to stop the air motor 120 and also to energize and deenergizethe pawl drive motor 104.

The commutator ring 124 has an inner cylindrical surface 128 and thecommutators 126 each have a surface 130 that forms a part of the innercylindrical surface 128 of commutator ring 124. There are positionedaround the commutator ring 124 the same number of commutators 126 asthere are characters 76 on the marking wheel 62. The commutator ring 124with the commutators 126 thereon remains fixed and does not rotate withthe marking wheel 62.

The contactor wheel 92 secured to the ring 86 of marking wheel bodyportion 64 rotates with the marking wheel 62 and rides along the innercylindrical surface 128 of commutator ring 124 into conducting relationwith the respective commutators 126 depending upon the relative positionof the marking wheel. The contactor wheel 92 rotates with the markingwheel 62. For example, viewing FIG. 4, clockwise rotation of the markingwheel 62 would move the contactor wheel 92 in a clockwise directiontherewith so that a current path or circuit between the respectivecontactor and the contactor wheel 92 would be completed depending uponthe relative position of the contactor wheel 92 on the fixed commutatorring 124. The relative position of the contactor wheel 92 is dependenton the relative position of the marking wheel 62 on shaft 60 which inturn determines the marking character 76 in the marking position. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, separate conductors 132 are connected to eachcontactor and extend outwardly through the enclosure 122 to a remotecontrol panel (not shown). Thus each of the contactors forms a part of aseparate circuit with a remotely located separate switch. To completethe circuit through the contactor, the remotely located switch in thatcircuit must be closed.

A second contactor wheel 134 is rotatably supported on a shaft 136 thatis secured in the commutator ring 124. A conductor suitably connects theshaft 136 with a source of current so that current will be conductedthrough shaft 136 to the second contactor wheel 134. A current path isprovided from wheel 134 through conductor ring 88 and to the wheel 92.When the switch between the source of the current and a particularcommutator 126 is closed, the circuit is completed when the wheel 92 isin contact with the particular commutator surface 130. With thisarrangement, the selection of a particular character to be in markingposition is made at the remote location and the switch is closed. Whenthe wheel 92 secured to the wheel 62 rotates to a position where it isin contact with the particular commutator 126 for the particularcharacter, the circuit is completed. With this arrangement, the

i completed circuit is utilized to engage or disengage the pawlOPERATION The previously described apparatus for marking a plate memberat a preselected location and to impress preselected characters on theplate at the preselected location operates in the following manner. Theplate is positioned and oriented on the layout table and is securedthereto by means of electromagnets 12. The turret assembly 14 is movedlongitudinally along the layout table 10 on rails 16 to a preselected Xlocation as controlled by the feedback system. The turret assemb.-;y 14is then moved transversely along the bridge member 18 to position themarking head assembly 34 in a preselected location.

The character on each of the marking wheels 62 is selected in thefollowing manner. The air motor 120 is energized to rotate the worm gear112 to thus rotate the worm wheel 82 on the marking wheel 62 so that thecharacters 76 on the marking wheel rotate about the shaft 60. The airmotor 120 and pawl drive motor 104 are suitably controlled by anelectric circuit that includes a separate circuit for each of thecommutators 126. At the remote control station separate switches areprovided for each of the numbers on the periphery of the marking wheel.A character is selected by closing the switch at the control stationthat is in the circuit with the commutator 126 that relates to heselected character so that a current path is provided from the selectedcommutator. The air motor continues to rotate the marking wheel 62 byrotation of the worm gear 112 until the commutator wheel 92 is inoverlying relation with the arcuate surface of the activated commutator126. The circuit through the closed switch is then completed through thecommutator wheel 136, conductor ring 86, commutator wheel 92 andactivated commutator 126. The completion of the circuit actuates asuitable device such as a solenoid and deenergizes the air motor 120.The marking wheel 62 is then positioned with the preselected numeral orcharacter in marking position. The pawl member moves into overlyingrelation with a tooth of the ratchet wheel and locks the marking wheelin position. The air drive means is then actuated for the pistoncylinder assembly 38 to thus move the marking head assembly downwardlyso that the punch 56 impresses a punch mark in the plate and the markingwheels impress the preselected numerals or characters on opposite sidesof the punch. With this arrangement, it is possible to first accuratelylocate a predetermined position on a plate and to remotely selectindependent characters or numbers on mark ing wheels positioned onopposite sides of the punch and to thereafter impress the preselectedcharacters on the plate on opposite sides of the punch mark.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle,preferred construction and mode of operation of the invention have beenexplained and its best embodiments have been illustrated and described.However, it should be understood that, within the scope of the appendedclaims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallyillustrated and described.

Iclaim:

1. A remotely controlled marking device comprising,

a table having rail members positioned along the sides thereof,

a bridge member extending transversely across said table and mounted onsaid rail members for longitudinal movement along said table, saidbridge member having a pair of spaced rails extending transverselyacross said table,

a turret movably positioned on said bridge member rails and arranged tomove transversely relative to said table,

means on said table to fixedly secure a plate member thereto beneathsaid turret assembly,

a marking head assembly mounted on said turret for vertical movementrelative thereto toward and away from said table,

means for vertically moving the marking head assembly into contact witha plate member on said table,

said marking head assembly including a vertical support member with apunch member extending downwardly therefrom for impressing a punch markin a plate member on said table when said marking head assembly movestoward said table;

a marking wheel having a plurality of characters arranged in spacedrelation around the outer periphery, said marking wheel rotatablymounted on said vertical support member,

drive means to rotate said marking wheel relative to said verticalsupport member, and

remotely operable control means for stopping said drive means when apreselected character on said marking wheel periphery is in parkingposition adjacent to a side of said punch member.

2. A remotely controlled marking device as set forth in claim 1 whichincludes,

locking means to lock said marking wheel with said preselected characterin marking position.

3, A remotely controlled marking device as set forth in claim 1 in whichsaid control means includes electrical contact means between saidrotatable marking wheel and a fixed portion of said marking assembly.

4. A remotely controlled marking device as set forth in claim 1 inwhich,

said control means includes a plurality of circuits equal to the numberof characters on said marking wheel, and

means to complete the circuit associated with the preselected characterwhen said preselected character is in marking position adjacent to aside of said punch member.

5. A remotely controlled marking device as set forth in claim 1 whichincludes,

means to move said marking downwardly to strike a plate member on saidtable with said punch member and said marking character on said markingwheel in marking position.

6. A remotely controlled marking device as set forth in claim 1 whichincludes,

a second marking wheel having a plurality of characters arranged inspaced relation around the outer periphery, said second marking wheelrotatably mounted on said vertical support member on the side thereofopposite said first marking wheel.

second drive means to rotate said second marking wheel relative to saidvertical support member independently of said first marking wheel, and

remotely operable second control means for stopping said second drivemeans when a preselected character on said second marking wheelperiphery is in marking position adjacent to a second side of said punchmember.

1. A remotely controlled marking device comprising, a table having railmembers positioned along the sides thereof, a bridge member extendingtransversely across said table and mounted on said rail members forlongitudinal movement along said table, said bridge member having a pairof spaced rails extending transversely across said table. a turretmovably positioned on said bridge member rails and arranged to movetransversely relative to said table, means on said table to fixedlysecure a plate member thereto beneath said turret assembly, a markinghead assembly mounted on said turret for vertical movement relativethereto toward and away from said table, means for vertically moving themarking head assembly into contact with a plate member on said table,said marking head assembly including a vertical support member with apunch member extending downwardly therefrom for impressing a punch markin a plate member on said table when said marking head assembly movestoward said table; a marking wheel having a plurality of charactersarranged in spaced relation around the outer periphery, said markingwheel rotatably mounted on said vertical support member, drive means torotate said marking wheel relative to said vertical support member, andremotely operable control means for stopping said drive means when apreselected character on said marking wheel periphery is in parkingposition adjacent to a side of said punch member.
 2. A remotelycontrolled marking device as set forth in claim 1 which includes,locking means to lock said marking wheel with said preselected characterin marking position.
 3. A remotely controlled marking device as setforth in claim 1 in which said control means includes electrical contactmeans between said rotatable marking wheel and a fixed portion of saidmarking assembly.
 4. A remotely controlled marking device as set forthin claim 1 in which, said control means incLudes a plurality of circuitsequal to the number of characters on said marking wheel, and means tocomplete the circuit associated with the preselected character when saidpreselected character is in marking position adjacent to a side of saidpunch member.
 5. A remotely controlled marking device as set forth inclaim 1 which includes, means to move said marking downwardly to strikea plate member on said table with said punch member and said markingcharacter on said marking wheel in marking position.
 6. A remotelycontrolled marking device as set forth in claim 1 which includes, asecond marking wheel having a plurality of characters arranged in spacedrelation around the outer periphery, said second marking wheel rotatablymounted on said vertical support member on the side thereof oppositesaid first marking wheel. second drive means to rotate said secondmarking wheel relative to said vertical support member independently ofsaid first marking wheel, and remotely operable second control means forstopping said second drive means when a preselected character on saidsecond marking wheel periphery is in marking position adjacent to asecond side of said punch member.